Indeed, the English rue traveled its own road: it comes originally from the Old English word hrēow, meaning "sorrow." Used as both a noun meaning "sorrow, regret," and, more frequently, a verb meaning "to feel sorrow or regret for something," rue is very old, dating to before the 12th century. RUE definition: 1. to feel sorry about an event and wish it had not happened 2.

Understanding the Context

to feel sorry about an event and…. Learn more. rue, (Ruta graveolens), small perennial shrub in the family Rutaceae used as a culinary and medicinal herb. Native to the Balkan Peninsula, rue is cultivated for its strongly aromatic leaves, which can be used fresh or dry in small amounts.

Key Insights

Rue is an evergreen plant with gland-studded foliage. any rutaceous plant of the genus Ruta, esp R. graveolens, an aromatic Eurasian shrub with small yellow flowers and evergreen leaves which yield an acrid volatile oil, formerly used medicinally as a narcotic and stimulant. Archaic name: herb of grace. Compare goat's-rue, meadow rue, wall rue.

Final Thoughts

Collins English Dictionary. From Middle English rewen, ruwen, ruen, reowen, from Old English hrēowan (“to rue; make sorry; grieve”), perhaps influenced by Old Norse hryggja (“to distress, grieve”), from Proto-Germanic *hrewwaną (“to sadden; repent”). rue (third-person singular simple present rues, present participle ruing or rueing, simple past and past participle rued) To rue is to feel regret or remorse for something. If that position at the deli ended up involving a reality TV show that made everyone famous, you may rue the day you turned down the job. Rue comes from the Old English word hreowan, meaning "to make sorry," and rue can still sum up a lot of sorrow in one small syllable. Definition of rue verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. rue verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford ...